“Ring Of Fire” Solar Eclipse set for February 17 – Why penguins get the front-row seat

The first solar eclipse of 2026 will take place on February 17 as a dramatic annular, or “Ring of Fire,” eclipse. This phenomenon occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun while near its farthest distance from Earth, allowing a bright ring of sunlight to remain visible. According to TimeAndDate, the eclipse will peak at 12:12 pm UTC. However, the full ring will only be visible from Antarctica, which means penguins will outnumber people among those who see it.